Tuesday, April 12, 2011 Maple Ridge teen helps raise money for BC Children’s Hospital.
Page A21
ary Annivers 1985-2010
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Stacy Mulcahy (left), coowner of Big Feast Bistro, and Rebecca Awram, organizing chair of Cheers to the Planet, are promoting the April 19 gala at the ACT. See story on page A9.
Troy Landreville/TIMES
Water
NDP speak out against Stave P3 proposal
by Amy Judd
ajudd@mrtimes.com
A local NDP candidate, along with NDP MP for Burnaby-New Westminster, Peter Julian, is calling for the federal government and MP Randy Kamp to stand up for Mission and Abbotsford, and not allow a publicprivate partnership (P3) project to provide those communities with water
from Stave Lake. “Everybody needs water,” said candidate Craig Speirs, “it’s an essential service.” However, Speirs said the problem lies in the fact that the NDP believes even though Mission council voted against a P3 deal last Monday, they were re-visiting the issue in a closed meeting last night. “That’s a problem,” said Speirs. “I’m just incensed that they would put their water supply up for sale.” He said the NDP heard that Mission council was discussing the issue again, and as a result both he and Julian were planning a
press conference and rally tion that got out to the in Mission on Monday, community.” after the TIMES’ deadline. Atebe stressed that the Speirs said they heard decision made by Mission it from Water Watch council last week still Missionstands – Abbotsford, four counbut Mission cillors voted “Everybody needs mayor against it, water – it’s an James while three, essential service.” Atebe said includhe could ing Atebe, Craig Speirs not confirm voted for it. what is on “If they the agenda were going for a closed to change meeting. their role,” he said, “that “Council did make a would have to be in a decision about the P3 last public meeting.” Monday,” he said. “At Speirs said that Atebe the moment I’m really refusing to talk about the shocked by the informameeting was a “good out.”
“What he’s doing is probably testing the waters to see if the vote can go his way,” said Speirs. Atebe said this meeting was a normal Monday night meeting, and that Abbotsford’s decision on the issue will have no relevance to Mission’s decision. Abbotsford council has yet to vote on the issue. Speirs said that a P3 agreement is absolutely the wrong way to go to develop a new water supply source at Stave Lake. “As soon as you do that, that private guy can trade that contract on the open market,” said Speirs. “The
only advantage is to the private corporation.” He added that the offer of $72 million from the federal government to build this water treatment source only on the condition that it be a 25-year P3 agreement was “classic bullying.” “You force people into this situation because they need the money,” he said. “I voted for P3 and four of my fellow councillors voted against it, and that decision still stands,” said Atebe. “It’s not genuine to tell the council they can’t do their closed meeting business that they do every Monday.”
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Craig Speirs doesn’t want Mission pressured into reversing decision on public-private deal.